Sa isang briefing sa Malacanang, sinabi ni Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Manuel Antonio Teehankee na hindi naman inaasahang matatalakay ang isyu sa Sourh China Sea sa isasagawang forum, bagamat maaari itong mapag-usapan sa bilateral meeting na isasagawa sa pagitan ni Duterte at ni Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We don’t expect — being an economic forum we expect the discussions to take place regarding the challenges at the Boao Forum for Asia. However, at the bilateral meeting, this may come up as well,” sabi ni Teehankee.
Idinagdag ni Teehankee ang Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) ay isang
international dialogue platform para sa mga bansang miyembro ng Asia Pacific at iba pang mga kaparehang bansa.
“It aims to bring together heads of state, business elites, academic experts and media personalities to discuss cooperation, innovations, and solutions towards a more open and prosperous Asia,” dagdag ni Teehankee.
Idinagdag ni Teehankee na takatakdang magsalita si Duterte sa BFA sa Abril 10.
“Addressing the BFA Plenary is a singular privilege for the Philippines and a privilege for acknowledging the President’s role and leadership in Asia and the ASEAN Region,” ayon pa kay Teehankee.
Ani Teehankee nakatakda rin ang bilateral meeting ni Duterte kay Xi Jinping sa Abril 10 bago tumulak patungong Hong Kong.
“After the meeting, the President will be traveling to Hong Kong to meet with members of the Filipino community with OFW welfare being one of the initiatives closest to the heart of the President. He is eager to see and hear firsthand the concerns and the situation of our kababayans in Hong Kong,” dagdag ni Teehankee.
Nakatakdang bumalik si Duterte sa Abril 12.